Seasonal Park Ranger (Backcountry/Wilderness)

Full Job Description

These temporary positions are located in Shenandoah National Park, in the Natural and Cultural Resources Division.

The positions are responsible for backcountry project field work that includes planning, organization and implementation of the Backcountry and Wilderness Management Plan (BWMP).

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-02/24/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Credit will be given for all appropriate qualifying experience.

To receive credit for experience, your resume MUST clearly indicate the nature of the duties and responsibilities for each position, starting and ending dates of employment (month/year), and the resume must reflect full and/or part-time or total number of hours worked (i.e., work 40+ hours a week, rather than indicating full-time).

If part-time, the hours must be annotated to be able to pro-rate the amount of qualified specialized experience.

To qualify for this position at the GS-05 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

This experience includes activities such as: technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work such as park guide, environmental educator or teacher, law enforcement or investigative work, forestry or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area, program specialist work related to the protection, conservation, or management of park areas or similar operations, or other similar work.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or 24 semester hours of course work in a related field of study such as natural resource management, natural sciences, history, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.

You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

Note: Only education beyond the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements.

Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours beyond the second year, is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience.

For example, 6 months of the specialized experience described above (50% of the experience requirement) and 3 years of college study with at least 12 semester hours of coursework as described above (50% of the education requirement).

Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level, you must possess at least one of the following minimum qualifications by close of the announcement: EXPERIENCE: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors).

This experience includes activities such as: technical, administrative, or scientific work, fish and wildlife management, recreation management, law enforcement, or other park-related work such as park guide, law enforcement work, forestry or fire management work in a park, recreation, or conservation area, etc.

and that included responsibility for other individuals or groups while in a backcountry or wilderness environment; instructing others in backcountry skills including Leave No Trace principles, water treatment, proper food storage, wilderness first aid, and backcountry trip planning; and using a topographic map to navigate in a undeveloped backcountry environment.

You must include hours per week worked.

-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one full year of graduate education (normally 18 semester hours) in an accredited educational institution directly related to the work of the position such as natural resource management, natural sciences, history, park and recreation management, law enforcement/police science, social sciences, or other closely related subjects pertinent to the management and protection of natural and cultural resources.

You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above.

For example, 6 months of specialized experience as described above (50% of the experience requirements) combined with 6 months/9 semester hours of graduate education as described above (50% of the education requirement).

Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. You must include transcripts.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

CTAP/ICTAP: Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection.

Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level on all competencies.

Federal employees seeking CTAP/ICTAP eligibility must submit proof that they meet the requirements of 5 CFR 330.605(2) for CTAP and 5 CFR 330.704 for ICTAP.

This includes a copy of the agency notice, a copy of their most recent Performance Rating, and a copy of their most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location.

Please annotate your application to reflect that you are applying as a CTAP/ICTAP eligible.

If you are selected for Federal employment, you will be required to fill out a Declaration of Federal Employment, OF-306, prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

Failing to answer all questions truthfully and completely or providing false statements on your application may be grounds for not hiring you, or for firing you after you begin work.

Also, you may be punished by fine or imprisonment (U.S. Code, Title 18, section 1001). Major Duties:

Serve as a member of the Park's Backcountry Crew, working alongside and in coordination with other park divisions, personnel from cooperating agencies, and volunteers.

Duties may include: Conduct patrols throughout the park's backcountry trail network via foot and throughout the park's front country and fire roads via motor vehicle.

Communicate with park visitors on a variety of subjects including recreational opportunities, natural and cultural history of the park and its resources, hazards and how to avoid them, backcountry safety, preparedness, safe hiking, and what to do in case of an emergency.

Maintain and rehabilitate backcountry infrastructure including signs and designated campsites. Collect field data regarding trail use and backcountry camping.

Visitor services, including responding to email and phone inquiries. Wilderness management and promote Leave No Trace (LNT) principles.

Deliver Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) messaging to visitors. Ensure personal, crew and visitor safety.

Communicate in-person via impromptu contacts, as well as via informal and semi-formal presentations.

Administration and file management GS-07 position: Field crew lead and coordinator for backcountry monitoring and maintenance.

Positions are TEMPORARY seasonal not to exceed 1039 - 1560 hours of work in a service year. One position will be filled at the GS-07 level and up to four positions at the GS-05 level.

GS-07 salary is $24.18 per hour. GS-05 salary is $19.52 per hour.

POSITION LOCATION: Shenandoah National Park preserves and protects more than 300 square miles of nationally significant natural and cultural resources, scenic beauty, and congressionally designated wilderness within Virginia's northern Blue Ridge Mountains; and provides a broad range of opportunities for public enjoyment, recreation, inspiration, and stewardship.

Within just 90 miles of Washington D.C. the Park provides visitors the ability to explore mountain peaks, hidden hollows, cascading streams, accessible wilderness, and stunning natural beauty.

Approximately 40% of the Park is designated wilderness with over 500 miles of hiking trails and the iconic Skyline Drive, SHEN was established as an eastern Park that provided a "western Park experience".

Due to the Park's easy accessibility to D.C and other highly populated areas along the east coast, visitation exceeds 1.4 million visitors annually which results in significant resource protection and visitor management issues and incidents.